Shaun Morgan: "I would like to thank family, friends, bands and fans across the world thank you for helping me and my family through this tough time. Eugene, I will miss you forever and keep you in my heart. I love you, little brother. Rest in Peace."

Well, my philosophy with the whole label is that I want to work with young bands that are hardworking and they know that they have to do everything themselves. Either you have it or you don't. You're never going to acquire, like, no one's ever going to say to you, "Here you go. Here's record sales and huge tours." You've got to work for it, and either you have that attitude or you don't. That drive, I mean.

I spoke with Rob Mason, the guitarist from Thundercore. He is intelligent and thought provoking. Truly a class act. Read on.

MusicIncider: What is your birth date?

Rob: 3/19/1969

MusicIncider: Tell me the story about how Thundercore was born.

Rob: It came out of the ashes of a cover band. Dan and I were guitarists in another band, and we got very dissatisfied with people asking us for our autographs after we had just spent a night of doing Metallica and Black Sabbath covers. God help me, we did Steppenwolf covers too.

At the end of doing four hours worth of covers-to have a bunch of drunken people going man, I'd buy your cd, where can I find it? I thought the cover thing was going to be really cool, and then we got into it and realized we had all these skills and all of this music inside of us-it made us want to do our own. I had the idea for Thundercore, not the name. We went through four names, and other bands had them. We said, let's find the dumbest name we can-no one had it. So Thundercore was it. Chris Morley picked the name.

MusicIncider: How long has the band been together?

Rob: Since 1996. Bret Simmons from Connecticut is our lead singer. Stacy Copas from Reno, Nevada is on drums. Dan Morley and myself are on guitar, we are both from Indiana. We are looking for a bass player right now.

MusicIncider: Who is your favorite metal guitarist and why? Who would you compare your guitar playing to?

Rob: Dime back Darryl. Blue Oyster Cult and Neurosis.

MusicIncider: Who would you compare Thundercore too musically and why?

Rob: Luckily, I don't have to guess about that. We fall somewhere between Hatebreed, Fear Factory, Pantera, and Sepultura and Soulfly.

MusicIncider: What is your most memorable live show and why?

Rob: Milwaukee Metal Fest. It was the first arena gig we ever did. It was an amazing show. I almost fell over when I walked out ob stage. We went on right before Soilwork. It was 7:30 pm in the US Cellular arena. I have never seen that many people before. Those were all our people. They were metal fans. There was a vibe in there that was just awesome. The other thing that made it really cool is that the band that was on before us was Jag Panzer. Just about everybody knows who Jag Panzer is, and we had met them back stage. During our set, the road manger and all the guys from Jag were hanging with us on stage and watching us and giving us the thumbs up. It was an amazing experience.

MusicIncider: Who in the world would you like most to open for?

Rob: Pantera, undoubtedly. But I could also say Soulfly.

MusicIncider: If you could sign with any label, who would it be and why?

Rob: Roadrunner. Most of my favorite bands are on Roadrunner.

MusicIncider: Where do you see the band five years from now?

Rob: I think we are going to just keep doing what we do regardless of what happens to us. I am speaking for myself. We don't do this just because we want to; we do this because we have too. It's therapy. I don't think you are ever too old to get a message across or to get your angst out. That is what we are about. I imagine we will keep touring and plugging away.

MusicIncider: Tell me your feelings about America going to war.

Rob: I think its bullshit, actually. I don't see an immanent threat from that place. I feel like we are getting snowed. I think North Korea is probably just taking advantage of the situation right now to get us to lift sanctions. They are starving over there, and I can't say that I necessarily blame them for the strategy although I think they are messing with the wrong people. I am not suggesting that what they are doing is right. Right now, we have sanctions on them and they can't feed their people. I can't blame them for flexing their muscles a little bit.

MusicIncider: Describe yourself as a person.

Rob: Overtly sensitive to a fault. I am a very empathetic type of person.

MusicIncider: Have you ever inhaled?

Rob: Have I ever WHAT? Yes, I have partaken.

MusicIncider: Do you believe in psychics? Why or why not?

Rob: Actually, I do. Just as a lark, a friend and I were in San Francisco on Fisherman's Wharf checking things out. It seemed like just a fun thing to do, we walked past a sign that said Psychic Readings. We went in just for the fun of it. There was this old Indian woman there dressed in a sari. She said she would read our palms for just ten dollars. I didn't believe a word at the time. I didn't believe in psychics at the time and I walked out of there a changed man. She answered questions about our futures.

MusicIncider: What is the message the band's music is trying to get across?

Rob: I don't know that we deliberately set out to deliver messages in our music. Our writing has to do with things that affect us personally. We even went so far as to record a song with Michelangelo producing. We had never done anything slow in our lives, and it was a ballad called 'Shimmer.'-It is about what happened on 9-11.

I write the music for the band on an acoustic guitar, and sometimes I will just be sitting watching CNN, like in the case of 9-11. I unconsciously reached over and picked up my guitar. The song wrote itself as I watched that tragedy unfold. That is what the song wound up being about. We try to be real.

9-11 was a mess. I am a big strong guy, and I was crying when I watched it. It really affected everybody that I know. Those were Americans dying for no good reason.

MusicIncider: What is your greatest achievement?

Rob: My wife and kids. Lynnette and I have been together since high school. We have been married for fifteen years. We got married right out of high school, and we just adopted three children. So, I would have to say that is my greatest achievement.

MusicIncider: What is your stance on gun control?

Rob: I think that idiots shouldn't have guns. I am a gun owner, and I don't consider myself an idiot.

MusicIncider: Who is your all time hero and why?

Rob: I would have to say my wife deserves that spot. She is just about the strongest and most supportive person I know. She would do anything for anybody.

MusicIncider: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Rob: Paris, France. I have always wanted to go. I don't know why.

MusicIncider: Are you getting any airplay?

Rob: Yeah, all over the world. There are a lot of specialty radio shows that we are on, and a few commercial stations. The two most interesting recently are in Brazil (107.9). Brazil has this show called Rock Patrol. Our stuff was so requested that they broke from their traditional format and had Thundercore night. We had a number nine hit in Romania, of all places.

MusicIncider: What is your favorite book of all time?

Rob: The Dark Tower series from Steven King.

MusicIncider: What do you want people to know about you and your band?

Rob: We are just an ass kicking hardcore band. Hopefully they will check us out.

MusicIncider: What is your favorite quote of all time?

Rob: Don't Let the Bastards get you down.

MusicIncider: Is there any message you want to send out to your fans?

Rob: Thank you for your support. We have been blessed with support, people come out to see our shows, request our stuff on the radios, and request that club owners book us. Our fans are all over the country and all over the world.

If there is anything we can do for you Barbara, let me know. I own a business called marketyourmusic.com, and we sign bands up for press and try to help them get their music out.

Send us bands like yours Rob. We would love to talk to them. May a label pick you up soon.

I spoke with Travis Crider, the lead guitar from the Bloomington Indiana based band Black Earth. Here is what he had to say when I put him under the MusicIncider Microscope. Read on.

MusicIncider: What is your birth date?

Travis: 10/18/1972

MusicIncider: Tell me the story about how Black Earth was born.

Travis: Brian Tonne and I were in a death metal band that broke up when the bassist graduated from school and moved back to Wisconsin. We knew a couple of other guys that were in a band and more into what you would consider the traditional type metal. Our basic goal was to get together and combine our influences and make some stuff that was heavy, and could still be played on the radio. We wanted to get something that was commercial, and still not feel like we were selling out.

MusicIncider: How did you get the name Black Earth?

Travis: It was something I got off the back of the Necromicicon.

MusicIncider: Who are your musical influences and why?

Travis: Kiss. I don't think I really have to explain that. I think everybody, whether they want to admit it or not has been influenced by Kiss in one way or another. Elvis is another, in a round about way. I grew up on it. Those to me are rock stars. You don't see rock stars like that anymore. Black Sabbath, Pantera, and Metallica-those came a little bit later. That's about it.

MusicIncider: How long has the band been together?

Travis: We have been together right around four years. When we started out, we were all in other bands. Black Earth was a side project. Rehearsals were a once or twice a month thing. It grew from there.

MusicIncider: Who is your favorite metal guitarist and why? Who would you compare your guitar playing to?

Travis: My favorite guitarist is Ace Frehley. I compare my playing most to Andy LeRock of King Diamond.

MusicIncider: Who would you compare Black Earth to musically?

Travis: I would compare us to later works of Corrosion of Conformity, Black Sabbath, and Godsmack. Definitely music to thrash your head to.

MusicIncider: What is your most memorable live show and why?

Travis: That's a tough question. We have had so many good experiences. Probably when we got to open up for Michael Angelo's band C4. They were there for the sole purpose of seeing good rock and roll.

MusicIncider: Who in the world would you like most to open for and why?

Travis: Kiss, if they ever tour again, or Black Sabbath I would say.

MusicIncider: If you could sign with any label, who would it be and why?

Travis: Probably Sony. I would say Sony because they have enough money to push, promote, and really advertise their artists.

MusicIncider: Where do you see the band five years from now?

Travis: Hopefully, we could be signed to a major deal and be doing some major tours.

MusicIncider: Tell me your feelings about America going to war.

Travis: I think that its going to be one of those things that's going to be tough to avoid. We have to do what's necessary to keep ourselves safe.

MusicIncider: What do you think about President Bush?

Travis: I think he is doing what he has to do to keep us safe. Ever since September 11th, I think things have went pretty good. I don't see any terrorist attacks happening over here. I think he's doing a pretty good job.

MusicIncider: Describe yourself as a person.

Travis: I am pretty laid back person. I am pretty set in my mind. I definitely know what I want, and I will do what it takes to get it.

MusicIncider: Have you ever inhaled?

Travis: Uhm, Yeah I have.

MusicIncider: Do you believe in psychics? Why or why not?

Travis: Yeah, I do. I think there's something there. I don't know how to go into it in depth, or explain. I think there is something there.

MusicIncider: What is the message the band's music is trying to get across?

Travis: I don't think there is any message. We just want to put on a good show. The ultimate purpose is for everybody to have a good time and get there aggressions out. Goal achieved.

MusicIncider: What is your greatest achievement?

Travis: I haven't gotten there yet.

MusicIncider: What is your stance on gun control?

Travis: I personally am against gun control. I was raised around guns. I hunted as a child. There are bad people, and the criminals find a way to get what they need. Criminals will find a way no matter what. People kill people. It is a matter of who is on the other side of the gun.

MusicIncider: Who is your all time hero and why?

Travis: I have a couple. First, my parents. They have always been very supportive of this music thing. They have never said when are you going to give this up and get a real job. The other one is Gene Simmons from Kiss.

MusicIncider: What age did you start playing guitar at?

Travis: Seriously, at about fifteen.

MusicIncider: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Travis: I would like to go to Jerusalem and Israel. I believe in God. It would be neat to see where all the events from the bible really happened.

MusicIncider: Are you getting any airplay?

Travis: We got some airplay on internet stations. We are getting a little airplay. We are working on college stations. Black Earth has music on an adult film that was filmed on the Bloomington Campus. The name of the movie is called Shane's World #32: Campus Invasion.

MusicIncider: What is your favorite book of all time?

Travis: The bible. Am I getting too godly on you?

MusicIncider: What do you want people to know about you and your band?

Travis: Well, just listen to the music and figure it out for yourself. That's what I want people to know.

MusicIncider: What is your favorite quote of all time?

Travis: Don't base your happiness on the deeds of others, because what can be given can be taken away.

Black Earth is a band to watch. They are a star on the rise.
I look forward to seeing who gets to them first.

I like nice gospel singers that like to hang out with metal heads. So, in the interest of being open minded, I spoke with gospel recording artist Carol Calloway. I am a regular music ambassador! Read on kiddies, it's time to do the churchie thing.

MusicIncider: What is the message you are trying to get across with Send The Comforter?

Carol: I am just trying to give a message of soothing hope; a message that the holy spirit, which is the comforter, can comfort us in any situation we are going through-whether that situation be sorrow, sickness or disappointment.

MusicIncider: Who are your musical influences?

Carol: Mahaliah Jackson, Albertina Jackson, and Dorothy Norwood. It would especially be those three.

MusicIncider: Who is the greatest gospel singer of all time and why?

Carol: That would be Mahaliah Jackson, because she has a voice of power and authority. The reason why she was singing was to bring a message of hope, and to esteem her brother and her sister higher than herself.

MusicIncider: What is your greatest achievement of all time?

Carol: The greatest achievement is getting this album done. This is my first personal album. I have recorded with the Tri State Mass Choir. I have recorded three albums with them.

MusicIncider: Tell me about being a recording artist with six kids.

Carol: Well, I would say (laughs.) People ask me how I do it, and I say I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). People say to me, you seem to have more than twenty-four hours in a day. It is like teamwork here. They all know and accept the calling on my life. They are very receptive to that, and they also help. They are all about the traveling and singing that I do for God. They all say, "That's my mom." We do what we have to do to make sure I get where I need to go. In spite of all that traveling and being away from home a lot, I think I got the world's greatest kids. I am very proud of being their mother.

MusicIncider: If you had one million dollars to donate to any charity, what would that charity be and why?

Carol: That would be the United Negro College Fund. That's because there are a lot of African Americans that are unable to pay for a college education. We are losing a lot of our African American young people. It is because of low self esteem, and us not supporting them and lending a helping hand. It seems like it has been so much easier through the years to say a lot of negative things about them rather than lending a helping hand. I think that we could give them our time as well as money, our listening ear.

MusicIncider: Do you think the music of today (non-gospel music) is affecting the kids in any way?

Carol: Yes I do. I think it would be rap music, depending on what they are saying. I do like some rap music, but if it is promoting violence it has been too far powerful of an influence on our young people today. There has been so much put on them, regardless of race, that they are already mentally beat down and angry. They listen to these words and lyrics, and to me, it promotes non hope.

MusicIncider: Who would be your ideal act to open for and why?

Carol: As far as rock and roll, it would be Elton John. I like his style and his whole spirit about him. Stevie Wonder. Gospel wise, I would love to open up for Albertina Walker. She is known as the queen of gospel.

MusicIncider: Tell me what you think about America going to war.

Carol: I totally disagree with it. I believe a lot of unnecessary government money is being spent. There is so much that needs to be done right here. People are suffering right here in America. Soldiers are being taken away from their families right here in America. We don't have the backing of other countries standing with us on this. We would be losing our men, the fathers of our children. They are going off to fight a battle. There are going to be a lot of casualties. Meanwhile, we have a big deficit here in the United States. Somehow, there is money to fight an unnecessary war. People don't have health care, and our senior citizens are constantly being pushed to the back burner.

MusicIncider: Tell me where you think spirituality is needed the most in everyday life.

Carol: I think that it is needed most in our daily devotions to God, first thing in the morning. We need to be giving thanks and praise to God for waking us up in the morning. That day is not promised to us. Thanking him for what we have, and thanking him for putting us where we can be a blessing to other people.

MusicIncider: Where is the one dream place you would like to sing the most in the entire world and why?

Carol: Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. It would bring back history. Mahaliah Jackson was the first African American to sing there. To me, it would be a great achievement. I have actually sung at Constitution Hall with the Tri State Mass choir. As we were standing there having our sound check, I felt like I was back at that time. I was imagining how Mahaliah Jackson must have felt. It was a turning point in history for African Americans.

MusicIncider: Tell me about the tour you are going on with the production company.

Carol: It is Wayne DeShields Productions. It consists of two gospel plays. One is entitled, Sho' Do Need 'Im Now. The next one is entitled, There is a Friend. They are both comedy gospel plays. We are calling it a national tour, but it is more regional. We will be in Goldsboro NC, and Raleigh-Durham NC during Mothers Day weekend.

MusicIncider: At what age did you start singing? Did you feel a calling to sing?

Carol: It just felt natural. I belonged to two churches growing up. My stepfather belonged to one, and my mother to another. My mother worked rotating shifts, so I sang at both churches. I was always being passed around, sitting on somebody's lap. Somebody gave me the microphone when I was three, and it just started. Those two churches were The Union Baptist Temple in NJ, and the other church was St. Philip's Missionary Baptist Church.

MusicIncider: If you could take a month away from your six kids, where would you go and what would you do?

Carol: My husband is my oldest child (laughs). I would go to some beautiful island, with some nice beautiful water. I would walk along the shore with no sandals on my feet.

MusicIncider: Do any of your children sing? Do you feel they have a calling?

Carol: My two daughters, Iyesha and Felicia. Felicia sounds and looks like Ashanti, and Iyesha has a beautiful soft voice. Iyesha sounds like Mary J. Blige.

MusicIncider: Tell me about what it feels like when you sing.

Carol: I feel free. I feel like I am right in the spot where I should be, like a part of the missing puzzle. I feel like there is a big puzzle, and I am that missing piece.

MusicIncider: Do you write your own music? Do you play any instruments?

Carol: I co wrote the songs on the album. The lyrics are real. I can play a little keyboard.

MusicIncider: Describe yourself as a person.

Carol: I am caring, soothing. I am loyal, and one that somebody can depend on. I have a great sense of humor. I like people to be happy.

MusicIncider: Tell me what success means to you.

Carol: Fulfillment. Happiness.

MusicIncider: Tell me what you feel about what happened on September 11th. Has it changed your life at all?

Carol: September 11th was an extremely sad time for us. I saw it on television. I could not believe my eyes. I think about it often. I don't like to see people hurting and crying. It was a day of serious morning and of us coming together as one. God wants us to care for our brother and our sister. It was a sad event. The good that cam out of it was the prayer and unity.

MusicIncider: Do you think the towers should be rebuilt, or some kind of memorial should be put up?

Carol: Yes. It was an event that we should never ever forget. Maybe a small scale twin towers, with water around it. A unity day, where we can go pray would be good.

MusicIncider: Where is your favorite place to perform live?

Carol: In Church.

MusicIncider: What is your favorite song off of Send the Comforter and why?

Carol: You are being hindered. It gives a message of hope. It talks about different things that I have experienced. I was going left, when I should have been going right. I know there are a lot of other people that share that experience.

MusicIncider: Do you believe in psychics?

Carol: In a way. I have had readings done. There are things that come true. Some people are doing it for the wrong reasons. I believe some do have a gift from god. You know it comes from God when it comes to pass.

MusicIncider: How does it feel to be in a metal rock magazine with all those bad boys?

Carol: It is a prayer answered. I know it is funny. I have talked to my family about this. When I decided to answer the call, I had asked god to put me in places that were out of the ordinary. It is hard to minister to people in church. I like to go places were people won't dare to go. I am a rose in a bunch of harmless thorns. All music belongs to God. I want to show a message of love, not repentance. You can catch more flies with honey. I can just be myself. Jesus even sat at the table with republicans. I can hang out with metal groups. I don't have to drink, but I don't have to be stand offish either. What makes me any better than anybody? We all have common ground.

MusicIncider: Who is your favorite metal band?

Carol: I have heard of Ozzy Osbourne. I like him. How about Anthrax? Carol: That's a band? I thought that was that stuff going around in the mail! I have heard some Incubus and Creed. I love Creed.

MusicIncider: I am going to throw up another one to you. How about OVER KILL?

Carol: I have heard the name. I have teenagers. They listen to everything that doesn't promote violence or downgrade women. I love Bruce Springsteen. I just like his style he reminds me of Prince. I like Garth Brooks, and his whole style. I like Kenny Rogers and Tim McGraw. I like country music. I grew up hearing Johnny Cash in our home. Johnny was just deep down home country. His tribute album is wonderful.---You know who I like too? Rod Stewart. I like his whole mannerism and how he carries himself on stage. I actually met Rod Stewart. I met him at Bally's Grand when I was working there in the accounting department. He was up on the roof sunbathing. I said hello to him, and he said hello to me. I just like his style. I had always wanted to meet him.

MusicIncider: If you were to cover anybody's music (non gospel) who would it be?

Carol: Kenny G. I like his soothing sounds. It is just soothing music. Stevie Wonder, definitely.

Carol and I had a great conversation. In ten years, she would like six or seven recordings out there. She would like to act and -GET THIS- play the bad girl in the movies. It was hard to believe, that she could act like a bad person. The one thing she wants to help improve is the welfare of our senior citizens. So, you must understand the title of the article!

Casper: I just sorta found myself doing it.Skape: I always listened to other people's music and thought about what I would have done differently.

MusicIncider: Who are your musical influences and why?

Casper: That's a tough question, because I am awful with names. I have this huge mental databank of music, but no names to match. If I had to throw some names out there, it would be Dark Agenda, Roni Size, Vinyl Syndicate…Skape: The whole Katapolt sound is influenced by Ronnie Size, Photek, DJ Hype, DJ Spooky… Goldie influenced the sound a lot, Grooverider, and UK Drum and Bass along with a lot of American Hip-Hop.

MusicIncider: What is your favorite instrument to play and why?

Casper: That would be the drums if I had I drum set… Digital drums.Skape: It would be a toss up. I know that a lot of people don't consider laptops instruments. It is definitely more complex than any sampler or sequencer. You can really do pretty much anything on that. I also really like playing keys a lot. It is really a toss up between those two.

MusicIncider: What is your stance on gun control?

Casper: The only real gun control is the control of the person holding the gun.Skape: I would have to back him up on that.

MusicIncider: Have you ever inhaled?

Casper: One too many times, but not anymore…Skape: I used to back in the day, but we're certified Boy Scouts now.

MusicIncider: Do you believe in psychics or the paranormal? Why or why not?

Casper: YES.Skape: I don't really feel too deeply about it. I do believe that there are psychics. I do believe in the paranormal. I feel like I have been in a couple of paranormal situations in the past.

MusicIncider: Tell us the story about how your band was born.

Casper: This good friend of ours, a drum and bass DJ named Jagarundi, was going to do a live set at The Church and he asked Skape if he wanted to link up. Skape then asked me if I wanted to as well…Skape: I was excited, I wanted Casper to come back me up with some beats, or maybe even some video projections. We had been friends for a while and had really jammed out once or twice. Jagurundi didn't actually wind up spinning at the party… Casper had already invited some of his friends down from New York to see us live for the first time. So we just decided we were going to play at this girl's birthday party. At that party was our soon-to-be upright bass player - My Cousin Troy. The rest of our band consists of dj Quiz, who's our scratch dj... Kimani (Slim Buddah) & Derek (Zen) who are the lyricists also known as Keys2Kurrents, and Aaron - who goes by Soldata, (another one of our lyricists).

MusicIncider: How did you come up with the name Katapolt?

Skape: I came up with the name. It sounded really German and cool sounding. It seemed really futuristic to me and reflected the music that we want to put out there.Casper: We like to throw a lot at our listeners... an audible "katapolt" of sorts.

MusicIncider: How do you feel about the music industry and the way it treats you?

Casper: We are underground - so we aren't really a part of the "industry".Skape: We're pretty underground. I have to agree with Casper on that. You have to create a name for yourself before some big guy is going to swoop down and pick you up. You really have to start something grassroots. No one is going to put you on unless you put yourself on.

MusicIncider: Describe yourself as a person.

Casper: I'm pretty easy-going, and very artistic. I'm also probably the craziest guy behind the wheel that you've ever met.Skape: What kind of question is that? Pass.

MusicIncider: What is your greatest achievement?

Casper: Graduation from the Atlanta College of Art with a Digital Multimedia degree. I had 18 credits plus an internship my last semester, and I still made it out on time.Skape: Receiving "Best of Show" in my class at the Art Institute.

MusicIncider: When is your next album coming out?

Skape: Well, we're working on a couple of 12"s. We'll have some vinyl out with the Brand New Natives within the next month. We're shooting to have the album completed by Summer '03.

Casper: Well, I used to live a couple hours north of the city, and my best friend lives in Manhattan... so it kinda hit close to home. As far as how it changed my life personally... it inspired me artistically to step it up a notch, because you never know... everything might be over tomorrow.Skape: I was dumbstruck when it all went down. I couldn't beleive what was happening. I will say that it definitely affected Atlanta hard as far as economy goes. A lot of my friends who are in art-related fields are out of jobs, and can't find anyone hiring.